Thursday, 30 May 2013

If you follow me on facebook you may have seen this journal page in progress I posted last night:

well as I was making it I decided it needed some sparkle, not glitter or anything too gordy though, I just wanted some little hint of glimmer in those blue bits.

Now what I actually wanted to do this was a nice glimmer brush pen that I have seen online. A brand makes them in both colour or clear glimmer, and I daresay at some point I will get one (I've 'hearted' the clear), but at the mo no I'm not going to be sharing that brand, at least not until I have played with the product myself and decided I am happy to be an endorser of it (the response to the recent post I did on gouaches, where many peeps now have added them on their shopping list, has reinforced my desire not to unwitting sell products to people without believing in them first). But never fear, I've a tutorial for us to make our own instead =D and it could NOT be simpler (double =D =D)

All you need is a waterbrush, this tut is great for using any cheaper brand waterbrushes you might own that you don't like so much. Fill you waterbrush with water:

Then if you just want shimmer add in a mica powder. I recommend perfect pearls for this as they have their own binder included in the mixture.

Mix it up...and you're done! I told you it was simple!

And if you want some colour as well as shimmer just add in some ink. I didn't feel like it with mine though, I just wanted some clear glimmers to put on top of anything I like, here's a close-up from the blue glimmer pen:

v.subtle, I love it

I was a little worried the mica would clog and not work in the brushes but they work *perfectly*

but note: to ensure they don't clog I would store these upright though so the mica falls to the bottom rather than at the tip, then give a little shake before use and you're good to go!

I can't believe I've never thought of this, or seen this around, before. I mean mica sprays are one of everyone's homemade essentials right? Now I think these will be a staple for me too =)

Tuesday, 28 May 2013

Hello everyone, hope y'all've had a lovely bank holiday (was it the bank hol outside out the UK? I dunno...) hope you've had a happy few May days regardless! I've a TAT to cheer you up though, just in case you haven't, or to make it even better if you have =) : -

Tell us a little bit about yourself & what kind of artist you are.Hello. I’m Jo, originally from New York state, I grew up in a very creative and performing arts household. As a child, I was offered piano and ballet lessons, despite very little money. I was the one who directed my three brothers in little pageants and recitals for our parents and I was the one who made little books and cards.

Having been a wife, a single parent (raised a twin son and daughter) I am now returning to what I love to do and that is to create art. I have finally come full circle in that I am brave enough to call myself a self taught mixed media artist. I have figured out that it does not matter that you’ve never been to art school, nor have you been published or had your work in a gallery. Society has a way of imposing labels and restrictions on us. Art is for one person something different to another. For me, if it moves me internally, emotionally, that’s all that matters. It is in the eyes or soul of the artist and beholder and that to me, is sacred.

What is the biggest challenge you personally face as an artist and how do you overcome it?The biggest challenge I face personally as an artist is time. I work a “real day job” and I often don’t have the kind of time and energy that I want after working all day to spend creating. I have learned to overcome this by taking baby steps. And by that I mean I start my day with coffee, breakfast and some art, sitting in my parking spot outside my job, in the car for 30 minutes. I have done a lot of art that way, although my van looks like a mobile studio and I have had to learn given each season what I can and cannot keep in the van in terms of art supplies. Pastels do melt, glue and markers can get dried out. So, lots of baby steps can turn into a lot of art. Since my children are grown I come home to my created studio space and play. Weekends of course, allow me to stay in my pjs and I’m not bound by a clock, so I get more done and that makes me feel good.

Do you think you have achieved a uniquely recognisable style as an artist, or do you find it a struggle to find your own style?I like to think I am still finding my style and I can’t seem to restrict myself to one medium so I experiment a lot. One day I might play with water color on an index card or I might work on collage. I seem to have as many as 6 different projects going on at one time. I must have art attention deficit disorder. One thing is for sure, I have to do something creative every day, no matter how small. It’s like breathing. I take care of people every day and so every day I also have to take care of me.

What is the best thing / worst thing that art has brought into your life?

Although I have sold some of my art (and that’s a nice feeling) I often share it by giving or sending it away, just because I like knowing I brought someone some joy. When I am creating art, I feel the happiest.

Thank you, Jenny, for allowing me this interview, to ramble and to share. You are an inspiration to many.

Thank you so much for your time and sharing Jo, I actually laughed out loud at your mobile studio, I used to do something similar when I lived in London, but it was the tube...not a car. I hated the idea of wasting nearly two hours a day before and after work doing nothing. Of course I could only do it if I got a seat (which living at the start of the tube line I got more than most, otherwise it would be time wasted on a trashy novel!) and the second of course was no paints or other messy (& room-requiring) supplies. Usually it would just be pens & markers but if I was feeling very adventurous I may risk a glue stick! So your pastels might melt Jo, but think how privileged you are to have all that room & possibility to yourself, verses an elbow fight with a newspaper!!

Sunday, 26 May 2013

I've a SUPER easy video tutorial today...well the formula is super easy, the technique is a little bit more...well, I can't say technical because it's all guess work really, as I'll explain later in the video.

The bottom line of getting it right....PLAY!

I know most people won't need me to tell them this but I still do get emails saying 'I tried this and I couldn't get it to work', or my favourite 'I can't draw a straight line'. When I ask how many times the said thing was attempted, or the said line drawn, it's usually a total of...ONE. Yep. Nearly every time. Occasionally more in the case of drawing. If we are honest we have all gotten put off too easily at one time or another when something didn't happen *instantly* how we wanted it to.

But here's the thing, and with drawing especially, it TAKES TIME and practiceand this technique is another that can take a little perfecting to get right too.

But Play is NEVER a waste of time.

So allow the two, three, four or even two, three, four hundred attempts to get yourself where you want to be. It's just PLAY. And playtime is NEVER a waste of time (yeah I know I said it twice, it's just THAT true! ;) )

Friday, 24 May 2013

I've never owned any Gouache...yep true story. It's always something that was on my new art supplies list, always something that I meant to buy, but then I got seduced by something else entirely (yeah, we're all experts on that one right?!)...seems silly that it's taken so long when I think that I like to get my hands on every kind of art media that is possibly out there.

Then one day last week I was literally thinking 'I want a paint that's fluid as watercolour but has the opacity of acrylic'...DING!!! and the light bulb moment made me go out and get my first set of Gouache paints (...if you've never heard of them before then watercolour consistency but with acrylic density is the best way I can describe them)

To test them I used my A3 sketchbook as the paper will hold up to a certain amount of water without requiring any gesso. I just did a quick sketch in sharpie using the nearest image & very rough lines, as this wasn't a lesson in accuracy, I just wanted something down quick so I could *play*

Then I have to say I went to TOWN! and I also have to say I LOVE GOUACHE!

I love how it's so blendable, and yet unblendable at the same time. I love how it reactivates so no matter how many layers you put on, you're still only working with the one (though fyi you shouldn't paint it too thickly, like you may with acrylic, or the gouache will crack over time). I love the opacity and how that makes it nearly *instant* to finish a piece if you want to. I know it takes time to really date a medium, but I also believe in first impressions & know when I will hit it off with something, so I can't see me divorcing this one ;) ....though come to think of it I've never divorced any kind of art media I've ever met - I guess art must truly be my lifelong love affair =D

...and yes I will do a video with Gouache staring in it soon (if I don't say I know I'll get asked lol) and to those that asked about seeing my new smashbook after my last flip post YES you will get to see that too. I shall do a blog tutorial as I create it so here's a heads up =)

Tuesday, 21 May 2013

Hutch-e-lul-lul-o (that's hello in double Dutch) or gug-o-o-dud e-vuv-e-nun-i-nun-gug, which is good evening (...apparently), **Happy Tuesday** welcome to TAT =) this weeks featured artist is Anne, who lives in California, but confirms not with movie stars & beaches but with orchards and cows; like that will make the rest of us any less jealous!! Na ah not me, gimme that sun, gimme it NOW lol enjoy the interview....while I go look out my rain-splattered window and sob!

;)

Tell us a little bit about yourself & what kind of artist you are.

I'm 29 years old & live in the San Joaquin Valley in California. Which is not the greatest place to live & nothing at all like most people's perceptions of California! There are no movie stars or beaches near me.. but there are lots of orchards and cows. ;) I'd probably call myself a mixed media artist. I will pretty much use anything I can get my hands on, including some pretty random stuff: junk mail, cereal boxes, high-lighters, nail polish lol. I love working in watercolour & ink best. I tend to work on a pretty small scale & make a lot of ATCs & little drawings (it keeps my inner perfectionist from getting precious about every little detail!) I've always kept a journal. Recently I've gotten into bookbinding & started making my own journals too. I like playing with calligraphy & fancy or silly lettering styles. I love words & like to write short stories, poems & essays.

What is the biggest challenge you personally face as an artist and how do you overcome it? I've always liked drawing & making things, but after I took several art classes I became very concerned with doing things the "right way" and using the "right" supplies. My high school art teacher was adamant that we could never draw anything without a reference photo, and that was a big obstacle for me for a long time. If I had an idea, but didn't have a reference photo to work from then I couldn't do it. Or worse, I would twist the idea to fit what I had a reference for or what I was able to draw realistically. I became very critical of everything I made & lost a lot of my confidence. Art stopped being something I had fun with. I would get frustrated with myself and stop drawing for long periods of time.

One of the things that really helped me get over that mindset was doodling in my journals. Because they were just for me, it didn't matter if I had a reference photo or if the perspective was wonky. I decided that I didn't really care about that stuff very much. What was important to me was the ideas, the feelings behind them & enjoying the process. The art I've been doing since I realized this might not be as realistic or technically proficient - I'm having to unlearn a lot of things. But I enjoy it a lot more and I like most of what I make :)

What do you find easiest / hardest in your art? The easiest part for me is probably coming up with ideas. I will have random images or ideas pop up in my head all the time and I have pages of lists complete with little stick figures of ones I want to get to.

The hardest is getting the ideas out of my head and onto paper or some other tangible form. Sometimes it's an issue of time or energy or skill. Or I'll run out of something I need. Sometimes improvising & working with what you have can really prompt some great creativity!! And sometimes it's just a pain. Wanting to draw & having my last pen run out of ink or a tiny nub of a pencil? That drives me crazy. Luckily, I have great friends & family who help to keep me in art supplies :)

Do you think you have achieved a uniquely recognizable style as an artist, or do you find it a struggle to find your own style?I'm not sure. I used to be really concerned about finding a definitive style of my own.. but that's one of the things I've decided not to worry about too much because it was starting to be a limitation. I think I probably have several different "styles" which I have decided is ok :) I have different moods & roles that change from day to day, so my art does too.

Thank you so much Anne, I've just spent a little while at your blog and must say I really love the rawness of your journal pages and how you're unafraid to put down what you're really thinking/feeling. I think the first couple of pics in this interview show that off beautifully too & can definitely see in your work what you say in the last question, about how your moods and art are connected. If I'm honest I'm quite a slave to my emotions and I wear my heart on my sleeve; my highly uncontrollable hormones make that sometimes inevitable for one, but I do feel that's when my art and also written diary entries become their rawest, and therefore their most truthful also.

Monday, 20 May 2013

I am actually quite happy I have finished this smashbook, usually I'm a little devastated whenever I fully complete a journal/notebook/diary, but this time it's so not the case

...eachjournal/notebook/diary I go through dictates to me what I will be doing in it,

for example in the horrid journal I did only 5-10 min art journal pages, in my current one I take my time and layer, in my ideas journal I both write and draw like it's a sketchbook and in this smashbook I most often did simple straightforward smashing

...which was fine, nothing wrong with good old fashioned a' cutting and a' sticking

...and a' taping and a' clipping

and I like this smashbook, I do, but now I just feel ready to make 'pretty' smashbook pages which means I'm reeeeeeeeeeally excited to start a new one =D

Here's the flip through, it's short (under 4 mins) as I wanted it to just be a bit of inspiration, rather than a distraction of explaining stuff like receipts, id cards or love notes. Hope you enjoy =)

Tell All Tuesday's here tomorrow, make sure you're back ready for some art inspiration ;)

Saturday, 18 May 2013

A few days ago I somehow came across some tribal artwork while mindless surfing the internet (...erhm I mean 'working'). I wish I'd read some of the actual articles to embellish this blogpost with a bit more info besides 'tribal' but I was just so taken away with the colours, and the patterns; I just lapped up the eye-candy during my allocated 5 mins of brain-wandering...besides I had no idea something would come out of it to do a blogpost on

But then this guy came to visit, first as a sketch done from a doggie rescue magazine I receive through one of the charities I support, then embellished with all the bright colours and patterns (though the actually look nothing like the beautifully intricate ones that inspired me so) that so turned my pup into a patchwork pal. I have since seen pics online of other patchwork-looking creations and realised he's not such an original concept =( but that still doesn't change the fact that I loooooooooooove him ~ <3 ~ and how such things as pretty patterns on the internet and photos in magazines can merge then imprint themselves on your psyche to form a something of their own.

I also love how fat my journals getting...

only a couple of pages left =( I'll hate leaving this journal but yes then it will be JOURNAL-FLIPPING-TIME < there's always a bright side =D

I would love to join your give away party. You are such a great artist. I'm happy to see cutie pie didn't just stay in your sketchbook. She deserves her own collection. Fab work!

Xx Monica

congratulations Monica =)

YAY! Congrats again to you three (can you please drop an email through to jennibellie@yahoo.co.uk & let me know the address you would like me to send your prizes to if you read this before I contact you).

Thank you to everyone else that entered, remember though if you want them my Cutie Pies are still available at Paperclayjunkie for the time being, and I do have something extra for you too...a new video...

It's a one minute art journal page process, something I haven't done in a while but something I still want to throw in every now and then among my more instructional journaling videos, because I think the two hold very different purposes.

...see, this is how I like to take my inspiration - in a short, sweet shot! Relax ~ and ~ Enjoy

Tuesday, 14 May 2013

Hey guys how is everyone?? Firstly though this is an interview post I just want to say wow! I'm so pleased so many of you are interested in my Cutie Pie Embellies yay!! thank you to those that have entered the giveaway, if you haven't I'm picking a winner (or rather 3) tomorrow so chop chop!

So the weather in England has backtracked again by about 4 months so while I listen to the rain hitting my windows I'm gonna snuggle up with TAT, then I may read some zines for my arty tuesday evening treat while I pick a Revenge-slash-Grimm-slash-Arrow-slash-Warehouse 13 show to watch yay =D yes I'm fully aware I am such a nerd lol I don't care, I love it =)

Tell us a little bit about yourself & what kind of artist you are.

My name is Carol Porter and I’m a Jane of all trades and truly a master of none of them, but I enjoy the process and the way I feel when I am in my own bubble of creativity. I’m teaching myself how to paint and draw. I enjoy sewing, polymer clay, photography, making greeting cards, working in my art journal, and the list could go on. There is so much out there that I want to try, sometimes I feel like I have some form of art ADHD (attention deficit hyperactive disorder). I stalk YouTube videos and blogs that have anything related to the type of media I'm interested in working in. It helps to feed my frenzy.

You will notice that in my paintings/drawings that I'm more drawn towards facial expressions or body language. A lot of my faces are not smiling though they're not necessarily sad either. You can tell a lot about a person in the expression of their eyes or how their lips are set. Also, the same goes for in the way a person stands, how they hold their hands, how they plant their feet, how they tilt their head. I find it very interesting. I'm still learning how to paint/draw faces and bodies but I'm getting better.

What is the biggest challenge you personally face as an artist and how do you overcome it?

I would say my biggest challenge is me. Sometimes the self-doubt can be like a suit of armor, nothing can penetrate it and it’s almost impossible to complete a project, which can be extremely frustration. In those moments, all of a sudden I don’t know how to draw a straight line or do something I've always done without thinking about it. I have to remind myself to stop right there, put the pen/brush/crayon/scissors/whatever down and come back in an hour or another day. That break is so important to remember to take. It gives me a chance to step back and see the project more clearly, rethink it, or ditch it all together (by ditch, I mean stop working on it). I rarely throw projects away, so at another point in time it may get reworked into something else. It's important for me to remember that not every attempt is going to be successful, but that EVERY attempt is sharping my skills and that I need to relax and enjoy the moment.

What do you find easiest / hardest in your art?

This is funny. Easy is knowing how to use all of my materials, however mixing my “skills” along with the materials to create that “master piece” is the hardest. Some materials and skills don’t play together well, so it’s a lot of trial and error. I end up with a lot of happy accidents.

The absolute hardest part is letting someone else see my work (da da dah dum!)

What is your greatest personal achievement either in your art, or because of it?

My greatest personal achievement is that despite how loud my inner voice is shouting “don’t show anyone!!” I've dared to believe that I AM AN ARTIST! I've been bold enough to upload videos of me creating art and being even bolder, I've opened an Etsy shop. I don’t know where my art journey is taking me but I intend to enjoy the ride. I've met so many wonderful and talented artists that inspire me on a daily basis, it’s been incredible.

Tell us where can we find out more about you & your art?

I would love for you to visit my YouTube channel, please feel free to leave me a comment, or you can visit me at my Etsy shop. You can also follow me on pinterest to see what some of my interest are: Carol Porter. I’m considering doing a blog but I’m not sure yet. (babysteps)

Thank you so much for sharing Carol/Jane of all trades =D I absolutely adore the orb you've shared in the first picture - that to me looks AWESOMELY masterful! And I would really suggest starting that blog, I have never met a blogger yet that has regretted starting one. I was *so* fearful of starting Jennibellie Studio, now I look back I've no idea why...the techy stuff I think probably just overwhelmed me - as it still does, but I don't regret a second, I now love Jennibellie Studio with all my heart...my little arty extension of myself. They are a place for others to see in side our head a little bit further & a place to feel connected with others. Stick it on your weekend to-do list, you won't regret it!